Crime & Justice

In this photo taken Wednesday, July 25, 2012, Palm trees frame the Anaheim City Hall in Anaheim, Calif. Police maintained a heavy presence on the streets of Anaheim to guard against further violent protests in the wake of the fatal shooting of an unarmed man by officers. The mother of Manuel Diaz condemned the unrest that has roiled the city, saying she did not want them to become her son's legacy. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Damian Dovarganes/AP

KPCC Staff|March 24, 2014

The Orange County District Attorney's Office has opened an investigation into an officer-involved shooting in Anaheim last week that left a suspect dead, an Anaheim police official said Monday.

The incident also resulted in the wounding of a police dog.

Police Lt. Tim Schmidt said three officers involved in the shooting have been assigned to desk duty pending the outcome of the investigation.

"The officers will be interviewed by the Anaheim police department and the Orange County District Attorney's Office on their use of force," Schmidt said. "The DA investigates the use of deadly force to determine if it's justified or not, if the officers are criminally liable for excessive force."

The Orange County Coroner's Office said 21-year-old Robert Moreno was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:18 p.m. Thursday.

Police say Moreno had fired on them during a stand-off near Mayfair and La Palma avenues.

Schmidt says Moreno was among three men approached by probation officers about an hour before the incident. Moreno allegedly fired on the officers and fled. While helicopters and SWAT team members searched for the suspect, Schmidt said the police dog located him hiding near a trash bin.

The three officers involved will not be identified until after the investigation is completed.

"We also called in the Office of Independent Review," Schmidt said. "They're an independent, nonprofit agency that investigates use of force allegations. They were on-scene and we requested them to come."

The police dog, a seven-year-old German shepherd named Bruno, is recovering after being hit in the jaw.

According to Anaheim Police, Bruno was able to eat on his own for the first time Sunday afternoon. He also received blood from his APD K-9 colleague, Ares.